The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Insubordination is the act of willfully disobeying a superior, by being disrespectful to that superior, or by refusing to follow an instruction given by that superior. As an example of insubordination, a soldier who disobeys a superior officer in the military is likely to be disciplined. If someone refuses to perform an action that is unethical or illegal in nature, […]
Read moreThe Latin term corpus delicti refers to the principle that there must be some proof that a crime has been committed before a person can be convicted of having committed that crime. In Western law, the term has also been widely used to refer to the object upon which the crime was committed, meaning a body, in the case of […]
Read moreIn a legal sense, the term conjecture refers to guesswork, meaning it is a supposition based on theory or opinion, without substantial evidence. Conjectures are often based on the way a situation appears, rather than on solid proof. For instance, the media often makes conjectures about the state of celebrities’ marriages based on rumor and photos submitted by unsubstantiated sources. […]
Read moreThe term command economy refers to an economy in which the government dictates the production, supply, and prices of goods and services. In a command economy, the state owns and controls all resources, rather than allowing public supply and demand to influence the nation’s economy. The former Soviet Union and North Korea are two command economy examples, which are considered […]
Read moreThe term collusion refers to a secretive agreement, which is improper or illegal, between two or more parties to defraud someone, or to engage in some other illegal or illegitimate activity. Collusion may be engaged in by parties with conflicting interests in order to limit or remove the influence of a competitor. It may also be used in an attempt […]
Read moreTreason is a betrayal of trust. In a legal sense, the term refers to the commission of overt acts to overthrow one’s own government, or to consciously and intentionally aid an enemy of the nation. The crime of treason is addressed in Article III, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution, though its definition today is somewhat more broad. To explore […]
Read moreUnemployment refers to the state of not having a job, or being unable to gain employment when seeking work. In the United States, the number of unemployed individuals is used to evaluate the health of the economy. The unemployment rate used in such evaluation relies on the number of unemployed people, as well as the number of people available to […]
Read moreSlander is a legal term that refers to a false, oral statement about an individual that harms his reputation or standing within the community. Slander is not a crime, but a civil wrong that is subject to being held responsible in a civil lawsuit. Statements made about a person must be factual, or they must express the legitimate opinion of […]
Read moreLibel meaning in law Libel is a legal term that refers to the making of false and malicious statements about a person in some type of print or writing. This can include false and malicious statements made in writing, printed on signs, or published on a public forum. Publishing defamatory statements or pictures through the media is also considered libel. […]
Read moreJoint custody is a family law term that refers to a child custody arrangement in which both parents share the decision-making responsibilities and physical care of the child. Joint custody arrangements are often made during divorce proceedings, at which time they are defined by a court order. The exact terms of joint custody depend on the situation, as well as […]
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